Method and apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow. A first step involves providing a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, has a loading mouth, heat pipes which melt accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle and a drain. A second step involves connecting a liquid conduit from the drain of the receptacle to an access opening to a municipal sewer system. A third step involves dumping loads of snow into the receptacle with a front end loader. A fourth step involves melting the snow within the receptacle to convert the snow to water. A fifth step involves draining the water through the drain of the receptacle and the liquid conduit for disposal in the municipal sewer system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow and, particularly, snow piles from parking lots of commercial buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When it snows, parking lots of commercial buildings are cleared promptly in order to ensure ease of access is maintained for customers. Snow piles are created in the parking lot, which are removed as soon as trucks can be secured to haul away the snow. As our cities become larger, the distance the snow must be hauled is increasing. More efficient ways of disposing of accumulations of snow are, therefore, required.

[0003] It has long been recognized that snow occupies more space than its equivalent volume of water. U.S. Pat. No. 1,160,205 (Smith 1915) discloses a street cleaning apparatus for melting snow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,105 (Lowman 2001) discloses a more recent example of the evolution of street cleaning apparatus of such street cleaning apparatus which are capable of melting snow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] What is required is a more efficient method and apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow which includes a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids. The receptacle has a loading mouth which is adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle. Means is provided for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle, thereby converting the snow to water. A drain is provided for draining water from the receptacle.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for disposing of accumulations of snow. A first step involves providing an apparatus to receive snow, substantially as described above. A second step involves connecting a liquid conduit from the drain of the receptacle to an access opening to a municipal sewer system. A third step involves dumping loads of snow into the receptacle with a front end loader. A fourth step involves melting the snow within the receptacle to convert the snow to water. A fifth step involves draining the water through the drain of the receptacle and the liquid conduit for disposal in the municipal sewer system.

[0007] The essence of the present invention is that instead of hauling the accumulations of snow for any distance, they are converted to water on site and disposed of in the municipal sewer system. This totally eliminates the cost of hauling and the delays presently being experienced in securing trucks. The receptacle is merely positioned adjacent to an access opening for the municipal sewer system. As the parking lot is cleared, the snow is dumped into the receptacle, where it melts and is disposed of directly into the municipal sewer system.

[0008] There are various features which can be added to improve the operation of the apparatus and the method.

[0009] Safety is always a consideration. In order to prevent children or animals from climbing into the receptacle when the receptacle is not in use, it is preferred that the loading mouth is closed by pivotally mounted access doors which pivot between an open position and a closed position. The access doors are capable of being locked in the closed position when the receptacle is not in use.

[0010] Heat retention in order to melt the snow as quickly as possible is also a consideration. It is, therefore, preferred that the access doors be biased by biasing means into the closed position in order to retain heat. The access doors will move to the open position when the weight of a load of snow positioned on the access doors overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means.

[0011] There are, of course, various means that can be used for heating snow within the receptacle. It is preferred that a plurality of heating pipes be positioned within the receptacle. The heating pipes are adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids. This form of heating is more robust that other types of heating. There are various hot fluids which can be circulated, such as hot exhaust gases from a burner or hot liquids for a boiler.

[0012] While experimenting with the most rapid manner of melting snow, it has been determined that the snow melts faster when in a bath of hot liquid. It is, therefore, preferred that the drain extend through a peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to a bottom of the receptacle. With this configuration, liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle. This maintains a minimum liquid level within the receptacle.

[0013] When the snow is dumped into the bath of hot liquid, it forms an ice water slush. It has been determined that the ice in the water melts faster when agitated. It is, therefore, preferred that means be provided to agitate liquids within the receptacle. Beneficial results have been obtained through the use of a circulating pump. For best results an outlet of the circulating pump is heated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a end elevation view, in section, of an apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, showing heating pipe and circulating pump detail.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a detailed top plan view, in section, of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, showing modified form of outlet for the circulating pump.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a end elevation view, in section, of a variation of the apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a detailed side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4, showing heating pipe and circulating pump detail.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a top plan view in section of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Variations will be described with respect to FIGS. 4 through 6.

[0022] Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 10 includes a receptacle 12 which is adapted to hold and retain liquid. Receptacle 12 has a bottom 14 and a peripheral sidewall 16. Peripheral sidewall 16 is insulated to reduce heat loss. A loading mouth 18 is provided for receptacle 12. Loading mouth 18 is adapted to allow snow 20 that is carried in a loading bucket 22 of a front end loader 24 to be dumped into receptacle 12. Loading mouth 18 is closed by pivotally mounted access doors 26 which pivot between an open position and a closed position. Access doors 26 are capable of being locked in the closed position with a locking pin 28 when receptacle 12 is not in use. Access doors 26 are biased by spring loaded hinges 30 into the closed position and move to the open position when the weight of a load of snow 20 overcomes the biasing force of spring loaded hinges 30.

[0024] A plurality of heating pipes 32, which are adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids, are positioned within receptacle 12, thereby melting snow 20 and converting snow 20 to water 34. It will be appreciated that hot fluids which are circulated through heating pipes 32 can come from a variety of sources such as hot exhaust gases from a burner or hot liquids for a boiler.

[0025] Heating pipes 32 are supported in position within receptacle 12 on a grate 36 with supporting legs 38. Grate 36 is strong enough to support the weight of heating pipes 32 as well as snow 20 which is deposited onto heating pipes 32 through loading mouth 18 in receptacle 12. A drain 40 is provided for draining water 34 from receptacle 12. Drain 40 extends through peripheral sidewall 16 in spaced relation to bottom 14 of receptacle 12, such that water 34 rises in receptacle 12 until drain 40 is reached and water 34 reaching drain 40 flows from receptacle 12, thereby maintaining a minimum water level within receptacle 12.

[0026] A liquid conduit 42 is secured to drain 40 whereby water 34 flowing from receptacle 12 flows into liquid conduit 42. A screen 44 is positioned between drain 40 and liquid conduit 42 to prevent debris which enters receptacle with snow 20 from flowing into liquid conduit 42.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a circulating pump 46 is provided to agitate water 34 within receptacle 12. Circulating pump 46 has an inlet 48 through which water 34 is drawn into circulating pump 46, and an outlet 50 which is heated, thereby promoting the melting of ice and snow carried by water 34 circulated by circulating pump 46. A flame source 47 provides heat.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, sand and other debris 52 which enter receptacle 12 along with snow 20, can pass through grate 36 which supports heating pipes 32 to settle on bottom 14 of receptacle 12. A drainage outlet 54 with sealing plug 56 is provided whereby minimum level of water 34 along with sand and debris 52 can be drained for maintenance and repair of apparatus 10.

[0029] Operation:

[0030] The operation of apparatus 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 and in accordance with the preferred method for disposing of accumulations of snow. Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 10, as described above is useful where hauling of snow 20 to a remote site for disposal is neither economical nor practical. Rather than hauling snow 20 to a remote site for disposal, apparatus 10 can be used to melt snow 20 for disposal at or near snow collection site. For example, apparatus 10 can be used in conjunction with existing municipal sewer systems 58 by connecting liquid conduit 42 from drain 40 of receptacle 12 to an access opening 60 to municipal sewer system 58. One or all of locking pins 28 on access doors 26 of receptacle 12 are removed to unlock access doors 26. Loads of snow 20 are dumped into receptacle 12 by front end loader 24. As the weight of snow 20 being dumped on access door 26 overcomes the biasing force of spring loaded hinges 30, access door 26 pivots from a closed position to an open position to allow snow 20 to fall through loading mouth 18 and into receptacle 12.

[0031] Heating pipes 32 serve to heat water 34 within receptacle 12 so that as snow 20 enters receptacle 12, snow 20 mixes with heated water 34 and melts quickly. Access doors 26 are biased by spring loaded hinges 30 into the closed position in order to retain heat within receptacle 12.

[0032] As snow 20 is melted within receptacle 18, snow 20 is converted to water 34 and rises in receptacle 12 until water 34 reaches drain 40 that extends through peripheral sidewall 16. Water 34 is drained through drain 40 of receptacle 12 and then through liquid conduit 42 for disposal in municipal sewer system 58 through access opening 60. Because drain 40 extends through peripheral sidewall 16 in spaced relation to bottom 14 of receptacle 12, a minimum liquid level is maintained within receptacle 12 which is continually heated by heating pipes 34 which are supported on grate 36 below drain 40. Sand and debris 52 which enter receptacle 12 along with snow 20 are either caught by screen 44 positioned between liquid conduit 42 and drain 40, or pass through heating pipes 32 and grate 36 to settle at bottom 14 of receptacle 12.

[0033] A cover 62 is provided on a remote end 64 of liquid conduit 42 to facilitate placement of remote end 64 of liquid conduit 42 over access opening 60 into municipal sewer system 58.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, circulating pump 46 is used to agitate water 34 within receptacle 12 to accelerate melting of snow 20 within water 34. Water 34 is drawn into circulating pump 46 through inlet 48, circulated through circulating pump 46 and then exits through outlet 50 back into water 34 so as to agitate water 34 within receptacle 12. With heating of outlet 50 of circulating pump 46, water 34 circulating through circulating pump 46 is also heated before mixing with snow 20 entering receptacle 12, thereby further accelerating the melting of snow with water 34.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, should apparatus 10 require maintenance or repair, water 34 along with settled sand and debris 52 can be drained from receptacle by removing sealing plug 56 of drainage outlet 54. When apparatus 10 is not in use, access doors 26 can be locked with locking pins 28 to prevent children or animals from climbing into receptacle 12.

[0036] Variations:

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, there is illustrated a variation identified by reference numeral 100. The components of apparatus 10 and the variation 100 detailed below will be identified by the same reference numerals as used in the description above, so that only the differences need to be identified and specifically described.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, salt containers 110 can be included in receptacle 12 for adding salt 112 to water 34 which helps to break down the ice. A filter membrane 114 is provided over drain 40 to maintain salt 112 within receptacle 12.

[0039] With respect to FIG. 5, in addition to flame source 47 which operates as primary heat source, a secondary heat source 116 is provided. Secondary heat source 116 is also a flame source. Furthermore, with apparatus 100, outlet 150 of circulating pump 46 is angled upward so that heated water is injected into receptacle 12 from an upper portion 152 of receptacle 12. Water 34 is still drawn into circulating pump 46 through inlet 48 and circulated through circulating pump 46 before exiting through outlet 150 back into water 34 so as to agitate water 34 within receptacle 12. Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative arrangement of plurality of heating pipes 32 is illustrated. Heating pipes 32 still receive a circulation of hot fluids to melt snow 20 and convert snow 20 to water 34 as illustrated in FIG. 4. With alternative embodiment 100, in order to avoid heat loss, heating equipment can be contained within receptacle 12. Only elements such as primary heat source 47 and secondary heat source 116 remain positioned exterior to receptacle 12

[0040] In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0041] It is envisaged that large shopping centres may leave apparatus 10 in a permanent position for all winter. In order to service smaller parking areas, apparatus 10 may be mounted on a truck or trailer and moved from job to job along with the front end loader.

[0042] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising: a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids; a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle; means for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle, thereby converting the snow to water; and a drain for draining water from the receptacle.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the loading mouth is closed by pivotally mounted access doors which pivot between an open position and a closed position, the access doors being capable of being locked in the closed position when the receptacle is not in use.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the access doors are biased by biasing means into the closed position moving to the open position when the weight of a load of snow overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle are a plurality of heating pipes adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drain extends through a peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to a bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein means is provided to agitate liquids within the receptacle.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the means for agitating liquids within the receptacle is a circulating pump.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein an outlet of the circulating pump is heated, thereby promoting the melting ice and snow carried by liquid circulated by the circulating pump.
 9. An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising: a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having a bottom and a peripheral sidewall; a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle; a plurality of heating pipes adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids positioned within the receptacle, thereby melting the snow and converting the snow to water; and a drain for draining water from the receptacle, the drain extending through the peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to the bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the loading mouth is closed by pivotally mounted access doors which pivot between an open position and a closed position, the access doors being capable of being locked in the closed position when the receptacle is not in use.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the access doors are biased by biasing means into the closed position moving to the open position when the weight of a load of snow overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means.
 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein means is provided to agitate liquids within the receptacle.
 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the means for agitating liquids within the receptacle is a circulating pump.
 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein an outlet of the circulating pump is heated, thereby promoting the melting ice and snow carried by liquid circulated by the circulating pump.
 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein salt containers are positioned within the receptacle to accelerate the melting of snow.
 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein a salt filter is positioned on the drain to prevent salt from being drained from the receptacle with the water.
 17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the circulating pump is positioned within the receptacle and heat generated by the circulating pump is used to assist in melting snow.
 18. An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising: a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having a bottom and a peripheral sidewall; a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle; a plurality of heating pipes adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids positioned within the receptacle, thereby melting the snow and converting the snow to water; a drain for draining water from the receptacle, the drain extending through the peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to the bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle; and a circulating pump to agitate liquids within the receptacle.
 19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the loading mouth is closed by pivotally mounted access doors which pivot between an open position and a closed position, the access doors being capable of being locked in the closed position when the receptacle is not in use.
 20. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the access doors are biased by biasing means into the closed position moving to the open position when the weight of a load of snow overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means.
 21. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein an outlet of the circulating pump is heated, thereby promoting the melting ice and snow carried by liquid circulated by the circulating pump.
 22. A method for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising the steps of: providing a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having; a loading mouth; means for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle, thereby converting the snow to water; and a drain for draining water from the receptacle; connecting a liquid conduit from the drain of the receptacle to an access opening to a municipal sewer system; dumping loads of snow into the receptacle with a front end loader; melting the snow within the receptacle to convert the snow to water; and draining the water through the drain of the receptacle and the liquid conduit for disposal in the municipal sewer system.
 23. The method as defined in claim 22, the drain extending through a peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to a bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle.
 24. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of agitating liquids within the receptacle to accelerate melting of snow within the liquids. 